Category Archives: rural and remote health

Some developments and opportunities in health and the media

May 21, 2012 – 4:26 pm

Below are details of some opportunities and developments in media and health: • A US course that aims to help journalists and editors do a better job of reporting on medical research (I have been assured that Australian journalists are welcome to apply). • A call for applications for the 2012 Dart Center Ochberg Fellowships (Declaration: [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in evidence-based issues, health and medical research, Media-related issues | Comments (0)

Introducing a wealth of ideas for new online health-related publications

May 16, 2012 – 8:11 pm

Entrepreneurs and philanthropists take note: below are some terrific ideas for new health-related online publications. Croakey recently put out a call on behalf of the Public Interest Journalism Foundation for ideas for online publications covering health-related areas of need. One of the pitches will be developed during a session at the New News conference, which will [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in aged care, climate change, disasters, evidence-based issues, Health inequalities, legal issues, Media-related issues, public health, social determinants of health, social media and healthcare, women's health | Tagged , , , | Comments (1)

The Federal Budget and health: what’s on the table (or not)

May 8, 2012 – 11:41 am

Below is a short summary of items related to tonight’s Federal Budget and health: what is promised/likely; what has been asked for; and what seems to be missing. What is promised/likely in the federal budget • Expansion of the national bowel cancer screening program (Some reaction to this will follow in the next post.) • [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in alcohol, cancer, complementary medicines, Federal Budget 2012-2013, mental health, private health insurance, tobacco control | Tagged , | Comments (1)

Some solutions to health workforce shortages

May 4, 2012 – 11:58 am

Health Workforce Australia recently released the first two volumes of its three-volume report, Health Workforce 2025, which provides medium to long-term national workforce planning projections for doctors, nurses and midwives up to 2025. The main contribution of the report, according to Professor Richard Murray, President of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, is to show that ‘more-of-the-same’ [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in health and medical education, health financing and costs, health reform, health workforce | Tagged , , | Comments (6)

An indepth analysis of aged care reforms, covering community care, rural/regional concerns and more

May 2, 2012 – 6:55 pm

How did we ever survive in the days when we had to rely on the mainstream media for analysis of complex policy issues? For those who’ve been left wanting more detail about the Federal Government’s aged care package, below is a series of articles cross-posted from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Library’s FlagPost blog. In the articles [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in aged care, health literacy | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

A red letter day for rural and remote health – provided these questions can be answered

April 27, 2012 – 1:15 pm

How will our two-speed economy constrain efforts to improve rural and remote health across the various states and territories? How can we get the balance right in rural and remote health policy between national uniformity and local flexibility and appropriateness? How can we ensure that the many agencies involved in addressing rural and remote health [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in Health inequalities, health reform, Medicare Locals, National Preventive Health Agency, social determinants of health | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Why health promotion campaigns in rural and remote areas must be “fit for purpose”

April 24, 2012 – 12:37 pm

Partyline is billed as “The Newsletter of the National Rural Health Alliance” – but that seems a rather modest description for a publication whose coverage of rural health matters is generally broad and deep, while managing also to be a good read. It’s one not to miss, in other words. The article below is the March [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in Indigenous health, National Preventive Health Agency, public health, tobacco control | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (1)

Lack of access to dental care is putting children in hospital and entrenching disadvantage

April 19, 2012 – 8:51 pm

Should you think this recent post was a little harsh, in condemning the obfuscation and lack of clarity in many health communications, try having a read of this recent report produced by the Department of Health and Ageing and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Titled Dental health of Indigenous children in the Northern [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in child health, Health inequalities, health workforce, Indigenous health, social determinants of health | Tagged , , , , | Comments (1)

The pros and cons of telehealth for people in rural and remote areas

April 16, 2012 – 10:06 am

Canadian researchers recently investigated the use of telehealth in delivering a self management program for stroke survivors and carers. The findings  – profiled below in the latest update from the Primary Health Care Research and Information Service ( PHC RIS) – will no doubt be of interest locally, given the increasing use of telehealth.  *** Telehealth: [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in cardiovascular disease, chronic diseases, e-health, primary health care, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Comments (1)

The latest wrap of Croakey’s coverage of public health, health reform and the works

April 10, 2012 – 8:37 pm

Croakey readers are welcome to sign up for (rather irregular) summaries of posts. If you’d like to join the mailing list, please send your email or leave it below. Here is the latest compilation, covering articles posted since the beginning of the year. The latest readership figures are now also available, showing that more than 39,000 [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in alcohol, Food, general practice, Indigenous health, Media-related issues, Naked Doctor, physical activity, private health insurance, public health, social determinants of health, social media and healthcare, The Conversation, tobacco control, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)